War Information
10 sectionsWar History of Aurora
Cheyenne and Arapaho Territory
The Aurora area was originally part of Cheyenne and Arapaho territory. These Indigenous peoples hunted buffalo and followed seasonal patterns. The land was rich with resources along the South Platte River. The arrival of US settlers brought conflict. Treaties were made and broken. Indigenous control of the region was forcibly ended in the 19th century.
US-Indian Wars Era
Aurora was affected by the US-Indian Wars of the 1860s. Fort Logan was established nearby. The Sand Creek Massacre created widespread terror among Indigenous peoples. The US military forced tribes onto reservations. The Indian Wars ended Indigenous sovereignty in the Colorado region. Aurora was founded on this dispossessed land.
Founding and Settler Colonialism
Aurora was founded in 1891 as a suburb of Denver. Originally named Fletcher, it was renamed Aurora in 1907. The city grew as a result of settler colonialism. Land was taken from Indigenous peoples and distributed to settlers. The city's founding was part of the broader colonization of Colorado.
Cold War Military Presence
The Cold War brought significant military presence to Aurora. Buckley Air Force Base (now Buckley Space Force Base) was established in 1938. The base played a role in Cold War defense. Aurora became home to military personnel and their families. The military presence shaped the city's economy and culture.
Militarization of Police
Aurora police have been involved in incidents of militarized policing. The police department has used military equipment. There have been controversial police shootings. The killing of Elijah McClain in 2019 brought national attention to police violence in Aurora. The militarization of law enforcement is a form of domestic conflict.
Modern Conflicts and Gentrification
Modern Aurora faces conflicts over gentrification and displacement. The city is diverse with significant immigrant and refugee communities. Rising housing costs threaten these communities. Development conflicts pit corporate interests against residents. These modern conflicts echo the historic pattern of dispossession.
